The Cost of Postoperative Complications and Economic Validation of the Comprehensive Complication Index: Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) via an assessment of its relation to postoperative costs. BACKGROUND: The CCI summarizes all the postoperative complications graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) on a numerical scale. Its relation to hospital costs has not been validated to date. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study, including all patients undergoing surgery at a general surgery service during the 1-year study period. All complications graded with the CDC and CCI and related to the initial admission, or until discharge if the patient was readmitted within 90 days of surgery, were included. The surgeries were classified according to their Operative Severity Score (OSS) and in 4 groups of homogeneous surgeries. All postoperative costs were recorded. RESULTS: In all, 1850 patients were included, of whom 513 presented complications (27.7%). The CDC and the CCI were moderately to strongly correlated with overall postoperative costs (OPCs) in all OSS groups (rs = 0.444-0.810 vs 0.445-0.820; P < 0.001), homogeneous surgeries (rs = 0.364-0.802 vs 0.364-0.813; P < 0.001), prolongation of postoperative stay (rs = 0.802 vs 0.830; P < 0.001), and initial operating room costs (rs = 0.448 vs 0.451; P < 0.001). This correlation was higher in emergency surgery. With higher CDC grades, the OPC tended to increase an upward trend. In the multivariate analysis, CDC, CCI, age, and duration of surgery were all associated with OPC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our environment, the CCI presented associations with OPC. This demonstration of its economic validity enhances its clinical validity.

Ascitis quilosa en el posoperatorio de hepatectomía derecha / Chylous ascites after right liver resection

La ascitis quilosa posoperatoria (AQP) se debe a acumulación de líquido rico en triglicéridos en la cavidad peritoneal tras una lesión en la cisterna del quilo o en sus afluentes. Es infrecuente verla después de una hepatectomía. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 44 años con adenocarcinoma a 16 cm del margen anal T3N1, con metástasis que ocupaba casi la totalidad del lóbulo hepático derecho. Luego de quimioterapia se realizó hepatectomía derecha, observándose al cuarto día postoperatorio líquido del drenaje endotorácico de aspecto lechoso, con triglicéridos 223 mg/dL y 77 mg/dL de triglicéridos séricos. Se inició dieta sin grasas, hiperproteica, con ácidos grasos de cadena media y octreótide (100 microgramos subcutáneos cada 8 horas), con resolución del cuadro. En conclusión, la complicación quilosa puede tratarse exitosamente con un abordaje menos agresivo, sin suprimir la ingesta oral, utilizando octreótide subcutáneo, dieta exenta de grasas, suplementada con proteínas y ácidos grasos de cadena media.

Postoperative chylous ascites is an intraperitoneal collection of lymphatic fluid enriched with long-chain triglycerides that results from injury of the cisterna chyli or its main tributaries. This complication is rare after liver resections. Here, we report on the case of a 44 year-old man with a T3N1 rectal adenocarcinoma 16 cm above the anal margin, with metastatic compromise of almost the entire right liver lobe. Following chemotherapy, he underwent right liver resection. On postoperative day four, the thoracic drain evidenced milky fluid containing triglyceride 223 mg/dL with serum triglycerides 77 mg/dL. A fat-free diet was indicated with fat-free protein supplements, medium chain triglycerides and octreotide (100 μg subcutaneously every 8 hours), with complete resolution. In conclusion, postoperative chylous complications may be treated successfully by a less aggressive approach, with oral diet, subcutaneous octreotide, fat-free diet supplemented with proteins and medium chain fatty acids.

Intrabiliary metastases in colorectal cancer: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Liver metastases emerge during the course of colorectal cancer (CRC) in 25-50% of patients. A small proportion of patients present intrabiliary growth. The absence of large series means that little is known about intrabiliary metastasis (IBM), its radiological diagnosis, the most suitable surgical techniques, and its prognostic implications. METHODS: A systematic search without limits was performed. The studies selected included patients with a diagnosis of CRC and associated IBM, either synchronous or metachronous. RESULTS: Of 40 studies selected, 30 were case reports and 10 case series. The median time between diagnosis and IBM was 46.7 months (range 0-180). Most CRC metastases are CK7-/CK20+. Surgical treatment performed ranged from endoscopic resection to major hepatic resections combined with pancreatectomies. It seems that patients with IBM have a better survival than patients without this metastasis. CONCLUSION: In a patient with a history of CRC presenting dilatation of the bile duct, IBM should be considered. More studies are needed to determine the most appropriate type of liver resection. It is also necessary to standardize the definition and terminology of this pathology, since the existing definitions may cause confusion and make it difficult to carry out case studies and case series.

Metástasis poco frecuente del carcinoma renal de células claras / Unusual metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

El ligamento falciforme es una reflexión peritoneal abdominal relacionada con la superficie anterior del hígado, que en su borde inferior libre contiene el ligamento redondo (LR); las lesiones únicas en este son infrecuentes. Presentamos un caso de metástasis única en el ligamento redondo en un paciente con antecedente de carcinoma renal de células claras. Realizamos una búsqueda bibliográfica para identificar casos similares. Nuestro paciente es un varón de 71 años con antecedente de carcinoma renal de células tratado con nefrectomía radical izquierda laparoscópica (estadio pT3a). En tomografía computarizada (TC) control a los 5 años se evidencia lesión focal en la periferia del segmento IVa, ante la sospecha de malignidad, se realiza laparotomía exploradora revisando toda la cavidad abdominal sin evidenciar otros implantes peritoneales. Se halla un nódulo de 1 cm en el ligamento redondo y se realiza su exéresis completa, con diagnóstico anatomopatológico de metástasis de células claras. El LR generalmente está afectado en casos de carcinomatosis peritoneal y solo existen dos casos publicados de metástasis únicas.

The falciform ligament is a peritoneal reflection that attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall; its lower edge contains the round ligament (RL). Single lesions in the RL are rare and usually correspond to perivascular epithelioid cell tumors. We present a case report of a single metastasis in the RL in a patient with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who underwent surgery five years ago. We conducted a literature review to identify similar cases and we found two case reports of single metastasis in the RL. Our patient was a 71-year-old man with a history of renal cell carcinoma who underwent left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (stage pT3a), laparoscopic right adrenalectomy and total thyroidectomy due to multinodular goiter. The pathological examination revealed metastases of renal cell carcinoma. A computed tomography (CT) scan performed at 5-year follow-up showed a focal lesion in segment IVa with no FDG uptake in the PET scan, but as malignancy was suspected, the patient underwent exploratory laparatomy with no evidence of peritoneal implants. A 1-cm node was found in the round ligament that was completely resected. The pathological examination revealed metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The RL is involved in cases of peritoneal carcinomatosis and only two cases of single metastasis have been reported: in one patient with papillary renal cell carcinoma pT1aN0 and another one with left breast adenocarcinoma.

Clinical Validation of the Comprehensive Complication Index as a Measure of Postoperative Morbidity at a Surgical Department: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Using clinical outcomes, to validate the comprehensive complication index (CCI) as a measure of postoperative morbidity in all patients undergoing surgery at a general surgery department. BACKGROUND: The Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) is the most widely used system to assess postoperative morbidity. The CCI is a numerical scale based on the CDC. Once validated, it could be used universally to establish and compare the real postoperative complications of each surgical procedure. METHODS: Observational prospective cohort study. All patients who underwent surgery during the 1-year study period were included. All the complications graded with the CDC and related to the initial admission, or until discharge if the patient was readmitted within 90 days of surgery, were included. Surgical procedures were classified according to the operative severity score (OSS) as minor, moderate, major, or major+. The clinical validation of the CCI was performed by assessing its correlation with 4 different clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1850 patients were included: 513 (27.7%) presented complications and 101 (5.46%) were readmitted. In the multivariate analysis, the CCI and CDC were associated with postoperative stay, prolongation of postoperative stay, readmission, and disability in all OSS groups (P < 0.001). The CCI was superior to the CDC in all models except for prolongation of stay for OSS moderate and major+. CONCLUSIONS: The CCI can be applied in all the procedures carried out at general surgery departments. It is able to determine the morbidity and allows the comparison of the outcomes at different services.

Percutaneous drainage as a first therapeutic step prior to surgery in liver hydatid cyst abscess: Is it worth it?

AIM: To delay surgery until the patient is in a better condition, and thus to decrease postoperative morbidity. METHODS: Using this algorithm we treated three patients aged 55, 75 and 80 years. In all three patients the clinical presentation was fever without a clear source of infection; all had nonspecific symptoms such as general malaise, dyspnea, and abdominal discomfort in the previous 15 d. They came to the emergency room at our hospital due to deterioration of their general condition. Analytical tests showed leukocytosis, neutrophilia and increased polymerase chain reaction. In all cases an abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed and liver hydatid abscess (LHA) was detected. The mean size of the LHA was 12 cm. RESULTS: All patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous drainage. The purulent material obtained was cultured, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus viridans and Streptococcus salivarius were identified. Antibiotic treatment was given adapted to antibiotic sensitivity testing. Surgery was performed two weeks after admission, once the patient's condition had improved. All three patients underwent an almost total cystectomy, cholecystectomy and omentoplasty in the residual cavity. Complications were: Clavien I (atelectasis and pleural effusion) and Clavien II (transfusion). The average length of stay (pre and postoperative) was 23 d. At the follow-up, no relapses were recorded. CONCLUSION: LHA management is not standardized. Emergency surgery offers suboptimal results. Percutaneous drainage plus antibiotics allows improving patient's general condition. This enables treating patients in greater safety and also reduces complications.